Socket loop wrench holder

ABSTRACT

A storage device for storage of socket wrenches thereon in end to end relation. The device has an elongated body that is made of a flexible twisted metal cable or other suitable material. Attached to each opposing end of the body are mutually engageable releasable coupling members. The locking action is accomplished as a result of one end coupling member being biased against and securely retained against the second coupling member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to storage devices having a loopconfiguration and more particularly to such storage devices for socketwrenches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage devices of various configurations for storing various objectsare well-known in the art. A storage loop, for example, which serves topackage safety pins or the like is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,979,049,issued to Patterson, on Oct. 30, 1934. The safety pin package iscomprised of a ring like member having a pair of ends which are disposedfor abutting end to end relation. A separate keeper sleeve is requiredwhich encompasses and retains the ends in rebutting relation. A plasticstorage loop in the form of a ring is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.2,432,870, entitled “Plastic Ring and Method of Making the same,” issuedto Evalt, on Dec. 16, 1947, which is used for permanently connectinghotel key tags to room keys. Individual ring segments are cut from aplastic helical coil, and the ends of each segment are secured together,as by gluing, after the key and room tag are assembled to the segment.U.S. Pat. No. 1,286,501, entitled “Lap Ring or Link,” issued to Bauer,on Dec. 18, 1918, discloses a storage ring for watch, chains, orjewelry. The ring includes separate ends each of which are precisionmachined to include a longitudinally disposed arm having and enlargedextremity provided with a lug extending away from the very end surfaceof each end portion of the ring. The spacing between the opposed face ofone end portion of the arm serves as a receptacle for the lug of theother end portion to provide for interlocking the ends of the ring. Ascan be seen, such structure requires intricate machining done to veryclose tolerances. Such required machining operations are time consumingand expensive.

Other loop members are known which serve other than storage purposes.One such loop member is used for attaching a towel to golf bags. Thisparticular device is too small to store any objects thereon and is onlyuseful to receive a grommet attached to the towel or the like thereon.Nor is this device practical as a socket wrench storage device sinceeach of the ends are provided with substantially different radiuseswhich would prevent socket wrenches from being slid around the endportions without binding. Such sliding movement is necessary for thepositioning of a predetermined socket wrench adjacent to theinterlocking ends so that a particular selected socket wrench may beremoved without the need to remove other socket wrenches from the bodyof the storage device.

It should be noted that none of the above patents disclose a loopstorage member for socket wrenches as described herein creating astronger securing means that screws, together, is coupled togetherquickly, changes in length, and has the ability to store while inoperation.

BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a socket wrench loop storagemember made in accordance with the subject invention with portions ofsaid storage member being broken away for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side view in of the twisted cable.;

FIG. 3 displays an exploded view of the fastener elements thereof in atorsionally unstressed or locking condition;

FIG. 4 displays an exploded view of the alternative fastener elements;and

FIG. 5 displays an adjustable loop member.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of socket wrenchstorage device 10. The device includes a body 12 an intermediate portion20 with opposing coupling members (30, 25) attached on distal endsthereon.

Intermediate portion 20 is made of flexible wire cable. Flexible wirecable is preferably made of a plurality of strands twisted together in ahelix configuration as shown in FIG. 2. Each strand is first twisted andthen a plurality of stands is then twisted around a core which cushionoff stress forces when bending the cable. The core can be made of steelor another suitable metal. In the preferred embodiment each strand ismade of 6 fibers.

When opposing coupling members (30, 25) are coupled together,intermediate portion 20 forms loop member from intermediate portion 20.One coupler member is a female member 25 and the opposing coupler memberis a mating male member 30. In the preferred embodiment, the opposingcoupler members (30, 25) each has a small cylindrical body portion. Asdepicted the female member 25 has a threaded recessed portion 34 and themale member 30 has a threaded extended portion 32. Recessed portion 34is formed by an inwardly threaded bore 34 within the cylindrical bodyportion of the female coupler member 25. Extended portion 32 protrudesoutward from the cylindrical body portion of the male coupler member 30.To securely form loop member 20 extended portion 32 is threadablyengaged (i.e. screwed) into recessed portion 34 thereby forming asecured connection therebetween.

In an alternative embodiment, opposing coupling members (30, 25) arecoupled together in intermediate portion 20 forming a loop member withfastening elements shown in FIG. 4. As depicted there, the female member25 has a recessed portion 34 and the male member 30 has a extendedportion 32. To securely form loop member 21 extended portion 32 isengaged with or snap into recessed portion 34 thereby forming a securedconnection therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, gripping ridges 33 areincorporated into the outer surface area of the small cylindrical bodyportion of one or both opposing coupler members (25, 30). While in usethe cylindrical body portion of one or both opposing members (25, 30)are adapted to rotate 360 degrees. The rotation of the cylindrical bodyportion provide a secure connection thereby preventing the connectionbetween the opposing coupler members to become loose and fail.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the loop member formed by intermediate portion 20can be manufactured at a fixed predetermined length and made withflexible twisted wire cable. However, in alternative embodiments, theintermediate portion 20 can have an adjustable length. As shown in FIG.5, extension member 65 have an extending body 64 with opposing arms (60,62) connected at distal ends. In use the sliding movement of theopposing arms (60, 62) allows for the adjustment of the intermediateportion 20 of the body of wrench storage device.

1. A socket wreck storage device comprising: a body having anintermediate portion with opposing coupler members attached to thedistal ends thereon; the intermediate portion being defined by a firstend with an attached female coupler member and an opposing second endwith an attached mating male coupler member; the body being made of anelongated flexible durable material adapted for receiving and holding aplurality of sockets thereon; the female coupler member beingreleaseable connected to the male coupler member to form a loop membercapable of varying in shape while in use; and the female coupler membercapable of rotating 360 degrees to form a secured connectiontherebetween thereby while in use preventing disconnection therefrom; 2.The socket wrench storage device of claim 1 wherein the intermediateportion is made of a flexible wire cable having a plurality of strandstwisted together around a core into a helix configuration which cushionoff stress forces when bending the intermediate portion.
 3. The socketwrench storage device of claim 1 further comprising: the female couplermember having a small cylindrical body portion with an inwardly threadedrecessed portion; the male coupler member having a small cylindricalbody portion with an outwardly protruding threaded extending portion;and the recessed portion adapted to securely engage with the extendingportion wherein a secured connection is formed.
 4. The socket wrenchstorage device of claim 1 further comprising: the female coupler memberhaving a small cylindrical body portion with an inwardly smooth surfacebore recessed portion; the male coupler member having a smallcylindrical body portion with an outwardly protruding smooth surfaceextending portion; and the recessed portion adapted to securely engagewith the extending portion wherein a secured connection is formed. 5.The socket wrench storage device of claim 1 further comprising thefemale coupler member having a small cylindrical body portion with anouter surface area having a plurality of ridges incorporated thereinsuch that a user can easily grip the female coupler while connecting anddisconnecting.
 6. The socket wrench storage device of claim 1 furthercomprising the male coupler member having a small cylindrical bodyportion with an outer surface area having a plurality of ridgesincorporated therein such that a user can easily grip the male couplerwhile connecting and disconnecting.;
 7. The socket wrench storage deviceof claim 1 wherein the female coupler member further comprises a smallcylindrical body portion that rotates relative to the intermediate bodyportion preventing the disconnection of the opposing coupler members. 8.The socket wrench storage device of claim 1 wherein the male couplermember further comprises a small cylindrical body portion that rotatesrelative to the intermediate body portion preventing the disconnectionof the opposing coupler members.